One of my most profound memories is from the day after my youngest nephew, David, was born. It was the first time I had ever held a newborn and I was totally unprepared for the experience. It was in many ways such a normal thing — I had held babies, including his two older brothers, … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 5: States of Consciousness
Once upon a time, the whole earth had one language, one culture, and all of the people lived in the same land. When the people came to a beautiful plain between two rivers, they said to one another, 'This is a beautiful and rich land. Let us settle here,' and so they did. The people … Continue reading Babel’s Curse, Babel’s Blessing: A Narrative Reflection for Pentecost 2021
So far in this short series on the basics of Integral thought, we've looked at quadrants — the belief that we need to look at things from as many perspectives as possible — and lines of development — the belief that human growth and maturity involve the whole person. Together, these two aspects give Integral … Continue reading Integral Basics, Part 4: Stages of Development
I have to admit that I groaned a little when I saw that today's Gospel reading was from John 17. It's actually a beautiful passage in its own way, recording Jesus' impassioned prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in the hours before he was arrested. But, with its stream-of-consciousness style, which loops back on itself … Continue reading A Prayer for the People of God: A Reflection on John 17.6-19
Today is Ascension Day, which commemorates the end of the forty days of Jesus' earthly appearances after his resurrection, and his ascent into heaven. The story itself, as related in the Acts of the Apostles, is as simple as it is odd: As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him … Continue reading A Glorious Inheritance: A Reflection on the Feast of the Ascension
Matthew Root 